Our readings this week describe the importance of barrier islands, salt marshes and mangroves to wave attenuation. Unfortunately many of these coastal habitats are stuck between a rock and a hard place. Normally, sea level rise would cause salt marshes and wetlands to move farther inland. Unfortunately, many of these marshes have no where to retreat to because buildings and concrete are inland of them.
Barrier islands face a related, but somewhat different problems. Many barrier islands such as Fisher Island off the coast of Miami (pictured above) have become developed. Undeveloped islands are able to retreat as sea level rises through the process of waves washing sand over the seaward side (see image below).
When the island is held static by concrete development, however, sea level rise will flood the island if no action is taken.
If these habitats are lost, their coastal protection services will be lost too and human settlements near coasts will be subject to more flooding. Management of these ecosystems needs to take into account allowing for retreat as sea level rises.
Featured Image URL: http://blog.miamiriches.com/2012/10/fisher-island-miami-luxury-living-at.html
Picture and Information Source: http://papers.risingsea.net/sea-level-rise-and-land-use-policy.html